Rhythmic decorative lighting apparatus



May 4, 1954 r M. s. WETZEL 2,677,297

RHYTHMIC DECORATIVE LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

MAURICE S WETZEL May 4, 1954 s, WET EL 2,677,297

RHYTHMIC DECORATIVE LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 5 INVENTOR. MAURICE S. WETZEL Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RHYTHMIC DECORATIVE LIGHTING APPARATUS 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for producing decorative lighting effects and is an improvement upon and carrying forward of the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,218,260, issued October 1, 1940, for Decorative Lightin Apparatus.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide an improved apparatus for producing moving and color-changing decorative patterns upon a light-reflecting or translucent screen that are directly influenced by sound variations; to provide an apparatus of this kind in which rhythmic color changes and movements of the decorative effects are so intimately related with sound effects as to be lyric in character when effected by a musical composition; and to provide an improved form of apparatus that embodies and is controlled by an amplifying electric circuit.

A specific embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of certain mechanical features of an apparatus for carrying out the invention in practice.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the sequential arrangement of various mechanical elements of an apparatus, such as is shown in Fig. l, for modifying and reflecting a beam of light from a filamentary light source so as to cast a modified image of such source upon a screen or wall.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the housing for the light source having an iris shutter for controlling the size of the optical image-producing light-emitting aperture.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a universal mounting for a concave mirror which directs the image toward the screen.

Fig. 5 is an illustrative form of vacuum-tube amplifying circuit arranged for controlling the various motor elements of the mechanical apparatus so as to modify the projected image in rhythmic relation to sound effects produced by a phonograph or public address system, or picked up by a microphone.

In the form shown in the drawings, the relay II] is powered by an alternating current source connected to the terminals l I through a rectifier tube I2 and under the control of an appropriate vacuum-tube amplifyin circuit l3 for controlling the supply of electric current to the relay In. The circuit l3 has its signal input controlled by a microphone I4 acting through transformer i5'or by the terminals l6 which may be connected to the sound sensitive circuit of a phonograph or public address system.

As will be understood by those skilled in the vacuum tube art, other forms of vacuum-tube amplifying circuits might be substituted for the specific circuit 13 which is a two-stage amplifying circuit including a triode H and a pentode [8. The filaments I9 of these tubes are shown apart from the tube symbols for the purpose of clarifying the circuit connections.

The relay It is of the double-pole, doublethrow type equipped with multiple spring-urged switch arms 29, 2| and 22 arranged for opening and closin the circuits of motor elements that operate the Various separate elements of the light projecting apparatus, as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in which the corresponding parts are indicated by correspond.- ing numerals, although these are shown in somewhat different shape and arrangement in the two views, the light source of Fig. 2 in an incandescent lamp 24, of which th filament 25 characterizes the image that is to be thrown upon the screen. The housing 25 encloses the light source and is provided with a light-transmitting aperture 2'! controlled by an iris shutter 28 operated by a lever 29.

In order to avoid over heating, the housing 26 is provided with air vents covered by shields 38 to prevent the escape of light therefrom. The beam of light, indicated by arrows 3|, casts an image of the filament 25 upon the curved mirror 32 which is tilted so as to transmit a reflected beam 31.! toward a screen or wall 33, which is either of light-reflecting character or translucent, according to the side from which the projected image is intended to be viewed.

The image that is thrown upon the screen by the reflected beam SM is characterized by the form of the filament 25 but is enlarged and distorted according to the form and disposition of the reflector 32. The reflecting mirrors are preferably concave and may be of spherical, parabolic, plane, cylindrical or conical curvatures, differing for varying the form of the image projected on the screen. In the diagrammatic view of Fig. 2, a plurality of such mirrors are mounted on a disk 34 which is rotated about a vertical axis and lies in a plane at right angles to the beam iii of light issuing from the source. These are arranged on the disk so as to pass in succession into the path of the light beam and are of different curvatures so as to modify the image that is projected on the screen.

The disk as is rotated by a reversible motor 35 through speed-reducing gearing 36. Motion of the disk is variable but slow.

Means for producing different colors are pr0- vided in the form of a transparent disk 3'! disposed at right angles to the light beam 3| and rotated by a shaft 38 through speed-reduction gearing 39 driven by a motor id. The disk 3! has mounted thereon a plurality of differently colored filter panels 41 also, preferably of different shapes in somewhat kaleidoscopic relation to each other so that the exposure time of different colors may vary considerably.

Interposed between the filter bearing disk and the source of light, along the path of the beam 3|, is an intersector plate 42 carried by an arm 33 pivoted on an axis 44 so as to move horizon tally back and forth, and this plate is provided with alternating opaque and transparent areas so that in its movement, it will eclipse portions of the image-bearing light beam that is transmitted to the screen and add an additional factor of interest to the ultimate display. The arm 43 may be normally urged in one direction by a spring 45 and urged in the opposite direction by solenoid 46 that is sensitive to sound variations, as will appear.

The lever 29 which controls the iris diaphragm 28 for enlarging and reducin the light aperture 21 in the housing 26 is likewise normally urged in one direction by a spring 4'! and pulled in the opposite direction to a variable extent by means of the solenoid 48.

In operation the magnetic strength of the core of the relay IG, being sensitive to the variations of current at the output end of the vacuuin-tubc amplifying circuit 3|, has a varying effect upon the switches 20, 2| and 22 in opposition to the springs 49 and 50 so as to cause the armature arms to swing in a manner sensitive to the sound signal that produces current changes in vacuum-tube amplifying circuit.

These motors 35 and 4B, 3y reason of their speed-reduction gearing Eli and turn the 34 and 31 at varying slow speeds. The motor 35 turns its disk in reverse directions according to the position of the switch arm the motor 49 runs or stops according to the position of the switch arm 29 without reversal. The motor 35 and 49 are directly connected to the source of alternating current I I.

According to the circuit shown in 5, the switch arm 22 actuates the solenoids and alternately as determined by the pull of the core of relay l0 upon the switch arm 22 opposing spring 5! but the power terminals 5| and 52 of these solenoids 46 and 48 are connected to the output end of the amplifying circuit so that the movements produced by the solenoids it and 48 will vary in degree, according to the sound intensity at the source of sound. The power terminals 5| and 52 may, if desired, be connected to the line circuit of the power terminals il, in which case the throw of the solenoids 26 and 48 would be from one limit of movement to the other.

In the drawings, the apparatus has been illustrated with respect to a single source of light, transmitted in a single beam from a single aperture in the light housing; but it will be understood that several light beams from the same incandescent bulb might be simultaneously directed from different apertures in different direc tions so as to pass through respectively different portions of the disk 31 to different reflectors on the disk 3 to cast images simultaneously to dirt ferent parts of the screen. Likewise, a bank of machines, such as are disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, may be controlled by a single amplifying circuit merely by connecting the motor elements to a succession of machines in a manner similar to that disclosed in my said patent.

The usual commercial embodiment of this invention includes a bank of machines and is otherwise arranged to display a plurality of images upon the screen. Each image continuously varies in form, dimensions and color iiitensity due to the motion of the machine elements controlled by the amplifying circuit. Each image on the screen is a flowing mass of color with light and shade and color changes traveling through it as if it were aflame. These movements and variations of color intensity are in synchronism with the decibel intensity of the sound that produces the signal current of the amplifying circuit.

Thus, when the signal is a musical composition rendered by a vocalist, orchestra, phonograph record or the like, the images on the screen seem to dance and swirl in rhythm with the music. The light effects have the same tempo as the music, visualizing the dance rhythm, waltz rhythm, march rhythm, or whatever may be the beat or inflection oi the sound source that controls the amplifying circuit. The resulting effects are almost indescribable and must be seen in conjunction with the hearing of the sound in order to be appreciated.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted withueparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A decorative lighting apparatus comprising luminous filament of predetermined form, means for producing a beam of light for projectin a image of said filament on a remote area, a e mirror located for movement in the path :1 beam of iight for variably reflectin said to said i tive electrical operatively associated with otor means for varying the movement of i. iliirror in predetermined relation to the intensity of sounds affecting said sound sensitive means.

A decorative lighting apparatus, comprising luminous filament of predetermined shape, a curved mirror, means for projecting a beam of carrying an image of said filament to said mirror, mechanism connected to mirror for moving said mirror to reflect said beam of light in varying directions, a source of sound, electrimotor means for operating said mechanism, a source of current for said electrical motor means, and a sound sensitive vacuum tube amplifying circuit interposed between said source of current electrical motor means adapted to vary the current to said motor means through variations in the sound from. said sound source.

3. A decorative lighting apparatus comprising a filamentary light source, a housing therefor having an aperture for directing a of light from said source, a concave mirror positioned at a distance from said aperture in the path of said light beam for reflecting an image of said light source upon a screen, an iris shutter adjacent said aperture for varying same, electrical motor means operatively connected to said shutter for adjusting same, and a sound sensitive vacuum tube amplifying circuit operatively connected to said electrical motor means for acuating said dia- Number Name Date 1,718,499 Thomas June 25, 1929 1,891,216 Hough Dec. 13. 1932 97 Patterson Oct. 23, 1934 

